Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-19
WHAT MY GRANDFATHER FOUND IN THE
WOODS.
Written for the young readers of tie RECORD

WOODS.
Written for the young readers of tie RECORD
UNIoS.l
Before the war of the Revolution Central
New York was a wilderness. A few ven
turous and hardy Spirits had begun to de-
yelop its rich resources. These were mostly
colonies advanced from the trading posts of
the Hudson on the east, and the Ontario
on the north dependent on these posts for
supplies, and also fo1 protection against
their Indian neighbors. One OF the
strongest of these colonies stretched west
ward from Albany, occupying the rich
tract known as the Rensselaer, patent. II
was in truth frontierman's paradise.
Gently rounded and wood-crowned nights,
with lovely interyales of meadow; spark
ling springs and rivulets sprung from the
rocky ribs of limestone, which cropped up
sometimes in huge lodges with crags and
seams, which afforded shelter to myriads
of small game, as well as to the hercer
children Of the forest Here was the an
cient garden of the Mohawks. Their de-
serted apple orchards supplying the early
settlers with abundance OF fruit And
thus, under the mild rule of the "0ld
Patroon,n was founded the village of Rem
sselaeryille.
1t was three or four years before the War
of Independence, and noontide of day in
July, when hunter paused on his way
through the forest, q few miles from the
infant village of Rensselaerville. He had
passed over the lower end of huge ledge
OF rocks and before him opened a winding
valley, threaded by an Indian trail, max
ing easy descent to the village.
A little spring fell from the rock with
pleasant tinkle. The tree shadows fell
dense and cool. The hunter seemed flushed
with his climb, and after refreshing him.
self at the spring, he cast keen and wary
glance on all sides, ard then sat down to
rest His tall figure, full OF supple power,
was clothed in colonial home-spun faded
at that, made much in the fashion of the
Indian hunting snit The damp locks
which he pushed back from his heated fore
head were raven black, as were the piercing
eyes, which seemed never 10 be at rest-the
eyes of q born scout and forest soldier.
His sunburnt face had the Rameiess charm
of youth. The fun-loving mouth was bare
of beard or moustache; its fine curves not
yet hardened into the stern lines belong
ing to sharpshooter of the Revolution.
This morning he had been pot hunting.'
Squirrels brushes and pigeons leads
peeped out OF the plethoric game-bag,
dropped earelessly beside him. The ready
loaded rifle was close at hand. His dog,
after thankfully taking his share of his
masters lunch, stretched himself at his feet
and went to sleep. The stiffness of noon
was upon the forest. A couple of katydids
accused each other with spiteful vehem-
ence; these, and the shrill rasp of the ci
cades' wings alone broke its silence. The
figure upon the rocks began to droop, as if
overcome with the prevalent drowsiness.
AT that moment sound fell upon his quick
4. L. .f.I 10
sound to which he was listening, in every
fiber Of his alert body, was not half SO loud
as the clamor of the katydids above him.
But it was an urlknOlgll sound. His wood
craft had made him familiar with all forest
sounds. The voices Of beast, bird and in
sect in all their varying moods, were as
clear to his perceptions as the tones OF his
mothers voice But what was hiS Hold
ing his rifle ready, he began a search in the
thieket He had gone but q few steps when
he had lost the sound. Returning to the
tree, It was there. As he listened it grew
louder, with a sort Of rythmical cadence,
ending in something like subdued whis-
tie. The conclusion flashed upon him that
it proceeded from that tree top, under
which he had so lately ate and dozed. His
eyes, riyeted upon it, detected tremulous
movement among the branches A thrill
ran over him, though the arms that raised
the rife were as tense as steel. He sighted
carefully and fred. There was a scream
and a crash, and large panther fell,
wounded from the tree, almost upon Tige's
back, who had sprang to his feet at the
crack of the rifle.
/ Calamity he met the furious enemy.
They rolled over and over, the hunter
striving to get aim and save the dog. The
struggle was brief Tige fell upon his back,
with piteous yelp, the cruel white fapgs
buried in his throat. Then the rifle blazed
again. The creature fell over with a hid
eous cry; the blood gushed from its dis
tended, foam-dripping jaws. Tige was
avenged and his master saved.
1t appeared that the panther must have
been awakened frcm nap in the tree; and
his delight at seeing his quarry so com
pletely in his power found vent in loud
purring dixie pleased cat9, which gave
warning to his intended victim. In the
peaceful opening years of the present cen
fury the hunter related this incident to his
grandchildren, after making their flesh
creep by initiating the sounds which led
him to discover the panther.
ALICE .OcKsIry